CONGRESS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SATURDAY Dec. n. (Debate concluded from oar 'ufl.) Mr. Seney said he could not conceive what groundof a'pprehenfion there was in the addrsft, to lead gentlemen to suppose that the opinion of the house would be committed by its adoption— He thought it couched in the molt general and unexceptionable terms: The amendment pro pofed,he didaiot think vary'd eflentially from the paragraph under consideration—but as the ori ginarwas well exprefltid, he law no reason for ex punging theclaufe—it contained an aflertion,the truth of which he fuppafed would not be contro verted. As to the objection against going into-a detail of particulars, it was fully jultiried by pre cedent in the last address—-the gentleman from South Carolina, if his memory served hiin, was on the committee who framed it—that address more pointedly committed the house than the j>r*feut. Mr. Madison thought proper to take some no ace of the objection , that had been niaile to the report. There were two modes of proceeding, he said, that might be adopted in drawing up the answer. The firft method was generally to de clare, that the House would take into their seri ous coniideration the business recommended to their attention by the President : And this, he observed, would be faying nothing, for as by the constitution it was the Frefident's duty to eom mimicate what matters he judged of importance; so it was undoubtedly that of the house to pay at tention to the objects recommended. The,fecond method was, to enter into a detail of the different points mentioned in the President's address, and in fucli cases where there was no doubt as to the propriety of measures' being taken, allure him in the answer, that measures would be adopted ; and if any thing doubtful occurred, merely pro mise that the fubjedt should be attended to. This rule the committee had followed in drawing up their report, and as in the business mentioned in the paragraph now before the house, they did not hesitate to believe some measures neceflkry, they could fee no impropriety in afTuring him that the best would be adopted. He added, that as it is clear that a war in Europe would by depriving us of foreign bottoms to export our produce, injure this country ; and as wars were doubtful, it was of the utmost importance that the American navy be put on so refpe<flable a footing as not to need for eign aid for the exportation of jher produce. He further obferved,that the answer returned laflfef fion, was more full, and went even to give the President afliirances that the house would concur in certain points proposed for their consideration 111 his address. He concluded by remarking, that the amendment proposed was binding 011 the House quite as much as the paragraph in the report. Mr. Bmith said it wa? true those who reported the addrtfs the last feflion, adverted to particulars, but were cautious in their mode of expreflion, and adopted ambiguous language to avoid giving an opinion : This would appear by recurring to that ad drefr : The charge of mconfiftenuy on his pari, was therefore not •well founded. Mr. Smith read foine paragraphs of that address, and obTeived, that the houfc was not pledged by the expressions then read ; but in the present address, there is an opinion given : It fays that we ought not to depend on foreign bottoms* because in cafe of war we may be deprived of that resource. These de clarations originate the obje&ions, and gave rife to the proposed amendment. He proposed therefore, as gentlemen appear to have no objo&ion to either mode of expreflion,that they would accom modate for the fake of haimony and unanimity. WEDNESDAY, Dec. ij, 1790. IT should have been mentioned in our last that Mr. Ranfellaer took his l'eat on Tuesday. A petition from A. E. Lutterloh wasprefented by Mr Bloodworth, which was read and laid 011 the table. Mr. Lawrance presented the petition of Timo thy Mix—refered to the Secretary at War. Mr. Fitzfimons presented the petition of Tho jnas Randal!—read and refered to the Secretary of the Treafury.—Alfothe petition of John Linn, <—referred to theSecretaiy at War. The motion laid on the table by Mr. Smith, rtfpecting the Enlogium on Dr. Franklin, was called for by that gentleman and parted. Mr. Ames presented the petition of Jofiali Simpfon, in behalf of sundry persons who had performed services as blacksmiths, for which they have not received due compenfatian—read and refered to the Secretary at War. Mr. Gerry presented the petitions of Reuben Gold and Amos Davis refered to the Secretary at War. Mr. Burke presented the memorial of which was read and rcfered to the Se cretary of the Treasury. Mr. Jackson moved that leave be given tobriiig in a bill to continue an adt, declaring the aflent of Congress to certain atfts of the State of Rhode Island, Maryland a»d Georgia, which will expire the 10th dayofjannary next. A Committee was accordingly appointed con | lifting of Mefl'rs. Jackson, Ames and Stu.ges. On motion oflir. Smith, (S. C.) the HouSe resolved itfelf int« a committee of the whole, (Mr. Livermore ii the chair) and took into con sideration the Speech of the President of the Unit ed States, to both Houses of Congress. Ihe Speech was read by the Clerk—after which Mi. Smith (S. C.) recapitulated the several lubjec r ts Specially Suggefled to the Consideration of the House, by "the Speech; he diftingui/hed Such parts of the Speech as were already in train, by being reSered the lall Selfion to heads of depart ments, and others which have been refered to committees ; and then moved a reSolotion with a blank to be filled up with Such articles as are not already particularly provided for, iby being refered or committed. Mr. Boudinot was in favor of chufing a com mittee to confer with the Senate on the mode of taking up the several parts of the speech. Mr. Vining was in favor of Mr. Smith's moti on. Mr. Lawrance said that it appeared to him that tlie usual mode of conlulering the speech, would be the bed ; he therefore thought it pro per that it lhould be taken up 111 paragraphs — and where it appeared that particular parts were already difpol'ed of, to let them be palled over; and with refpetft"to others, committees might be appoinred, as the committee of the whole may determine. Mr. Clymer fujpofed, that agreeable to the de termination o£ ths House lsut leltion, the whole business lhould betaken up dt novo. TheChairinanobferved that ds the whole speech was now before the Committee, it remained to proceed to the d.fcuflion of the several parts — pursuant to which he Ihould read it paragraph by paragraph, and the committee Would determine refpetfting them, as they saw proper—this appear ed to him to be. the natural way of doing the bu siness. Mr. Vining said the difficulty appeared to ori ginate in the mode—for his part, he thought the Jeaft circumlocutory the best, and for that rea son had fecoudeJ the motion by the gentleman from South Carolina. The motion of Mr. Smith lay on the table—and the Chairman to read the speech in paragraphs.—On reading the paragraph refpect ingthe Indian expedition, Mr. Smith moved that the article Should be inserted in the blank in his motion. Mr. Lawrance supposed it best to pass over this article. Mr. Vii\ing concurred in the sentiment with Mr. Lawrance. Mr. Hartley was opposed to paflingthis matter over—the profpedt that further hol'tilitics would take place between the inhabitants of the fron tiers and the Indians rendered it highly neceflary that something fhouldbe done iinnicdiaiely. Mr. Seney said he had m> idea that any gentle man in the committee had it in view to pass over this business entirely—Hill he thought it impossible to determine at once whaa is proper to be done 011 every fubjed't—The mode proposed by the gentle man from South Carolina.appeared to him calcula ted to commit thejudgment of the House. Mr. Lee obferved,that as the committee as fuel), had no right to appoint a committee ofany kind, he thought that any thing further than expref hng the sense of the committee on the several pans of thefpeech, would be improper ; with this vi?w he submitted a resolution to the following effect, on the paragraph respecting Indian affairs, viz. Resolved, that it is the opinion of the com mittee that the present posture of Indian affairs, requires the lerious attention oi the legislature. This was seconded by Mr. Seney. Mr. Smith obje&ed to this motion as it did not bring the object fully before the committee : If the gentleman would consent that it fliouhl go so far as to propose the appointment of a select committee, he should have no objection to it. Mr. Lee supported his motion. Mr. Lawrance observed that it appeared to him that nothing more wasneceffary to be done in this business, than providing the means of defraying the expence—-he had supposed it would Jtrike the committee in this point of light—The expe diency or inexpediency of the expedition he pre sumed was not now to be difcufled—The President does not appeal to the house to determine the propriety of his conduct—The expedition lias been approved of by the house in their anfwerto the President's speech—He therefore moved the following, Resolved, as the sense of this commit tee that immediate proviiion ought to be made to defray the expences ofthe expedition ajrainft the Indians, N. W. of the Ohio. Mr. Lee withdrew his motion—and that of Mr. Lawrance being put was agreed to. The paragraph refpecfting our navigation being lead, Mr. Goodhue observed, that the reason as 674 signed by the gentleman from S. Carolina, for palling over ciiac part of the Prelident's speech, that this fubjetf: was connected with the lilheries on which a report from the Secretary of the i rea fury, was expe<fted, did not appear fulficient to himtojuftify thetr palfing it over—He therefore moved thelollowing, Rtjolvcd, as the lenle ot this committee, that a committee ought to be appoint ed to bring in a bill for the further encourage ment of the navigation of the United States. Mr. Smith, obierved that he thought tliefub ject was refered to the Secretary ot State—He read a paragraph from the speech to fliew it was connected with the fiiheries. He wifhedlforafuf penfion of tiie buiin'efs, as the exact ftateofaffairs. in Europe <vas at present unknown. Mr. Fitzfimons laid that the reasons offered were fuliicient to prevent al'uddon decilion—but did not in his opinion render it improper to rake up the fubjec r t immediately—He should be op posed to an ultimate decilion till the fullelt in formation is obtained. Mr. Vining eiuered into a general considera tion of the subject ; lie thought the present the critical moment in which this interesting bnfinels (hould be difculled on its own proper principles j he thought tliepropofed resolution did not enter fully en«ugh into the merits of the fubjec f t, agree able to the ideas fuggelted by the Prefid'ent ; he therefore proposed a resolution which went to express the femiments of the house refpeiting making provision for the transportation of Ame rican produce, in American bottoms. Mr. Goodhue objected to the motion of Mr. Vining at the present moment, though he fully accorded with him in principle, he tho'ughr the motion he had submitted would more generally meet the present ideas of the committee. Mr. Jackson opposed Mr. Vining's motion ; he said though he was ajrainlt taking any measures atprefent, he preferred the relolution of the gentleman from Salem O Mr. Viuing withdrew liis motion. Mr. Goodhue's motion being put, pafled in the. affirmative. .The paragraph refpe&ing the Mediteranean trade being read—Mr. Smith moved the follow ing. Resolved, that fiich part of the Prefldent's speech as relates to the trade to the Mediteranean, be referred to the Secretary of State ; agreed to. On the fiibjects of weights and measures, Mr. Vining moved the following. Resolved, as the sense of this committee, that a committee ought to be appointed to bring in a bill or bills pro viding for the.cilablilhment of a uniform lland ard of weights and measures throoghout th«" Uni ted States. Mr. Boucllnot suggested the propriety of pall ing over this business at present ; he mentioned a reaion offered by the Secretary of State, that there was to be a convention in Europe on this particular business ; the result of ihe meeting is not yet known. Mr. Law ranee proposed that as the report of the Secretary of the Treafut y had not been a<ft ed upon, that it should now be refered to * com mittee of the whole house. Mr. Vining observed that if that report was tobedifcufled by the house, they mult divest themselves of the cliafaifter of politicians and as sume that of philosophers ; the discussion he con ceived would employ the committee till next March, 12 months. He thought the mode he pro posed would be found more Ample, and the com mute appointed would naturally avail themselves of the Secretary's report. Mr. (S. C.) was in favor of taking up the Se cretary's report in committee of the whoje. Several members spake against Mr. Vining's motion, which being put, was loft. The discussion being gone through, the com mute rose and reported the resolutions they had agreed to which being read, are as follows : Refolded, as the opinion of this committee, that immediate proviiion be made to detray the ex penses of the expedition against the Indians, North Weft of the Ohio ; this resolution was agreed to, and referred to the Secretary of the Treasury. Resolved, as the-fenfe of this committee, that a coinmitte ought to be appointed to bring in a bill or bills making further provision for the en couragement of the navigation of the United States ; agreed to by the house, and referred to a committee of twelve. Resolved, that such parts of the Prefident'ft speech as refers to the Mediterranean trade, be referred to the Secretary of State. On motion of Mr. Boudinot it was resolved, that the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the fubjecliof the unappropriated lands—and the inilitutinga land office, be referred to a com mittee of the whole house on Friday next. Oidered, That one hundred copies be printed, for the uie of the house. On motion of Mr. Smith* (S. C.) the report of the Secretary of State 011 the fubied: of Weights and Measures, was referred to the committee oi the whole house on Wednelday next. Adjourned.
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